Isabelle decided that she would give the suitors a chance. It was the very least she could go for Victoria.
The thought of having to marry any one of those suitors was the only thing that gave her pause. It would be easy enough to entertain their flirting. She would dance with them at the balls and go walking with them in the mornings.
Marriage was another beast entirely.
“I believe that any man would be lucky to have you, but you should not have to marry for less than you deserve or desire.”
Victoria sighed, her shoulders slumping as she slouched and looked out the window at the rest of theton. “I have thoughttime and time again about what I would be willing to do to save my family. Each time I come to the answer that I would stop at nothing to ensure that they are cared for. If that means that I must marry a man for his money, then that is what I shall do.”
“Would Wi—His Grace want you to marry?”
“Why do you think you are here?” Victoria reached up and swiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “It is partially my fault that you are here, and why Felix will push you to marry.”
“What do you mean?” Isabelle asked, her tone gentle. She didn’t see a world in which she could blame her friend for the misfortune she now faced. She had brought it upon herself by refusing to marry after the incident with her fiancé.
“I told Felix of my plan,” Victoria said, her voice breaking slightly. “I told him of my intention to marry for money and he said that he would find another way.”
“And you think his other way involved me?”
“I am certain of it.”
Isabelle gave a warm laugh and shook her head. “I can assure you it did not. I was to marry back home. That engagement ended and I refused to entertain another. While I am to eventually inherit my father and mother’s fortune, they wish to see me married before I do. They want grandchildren to affirm that their legacy will continue long after they are gone.”
“Still, Felix would never have reached out to your father if I had not come to him with my plan to help.”
“My father was the one to reach out first.” Isabelle forced the words out even though she hated speaking about it. Now that she knew there was more being hidden from her, it was difficult to even think about what her father had arranged. “He had spoken to His Grace several times about lowering the fees before this began. After that, my mother reached out to yours with their plan and the rest was set in motion.”
“Felix never told me that.”
“And why would he? I have spoken to your brother, and he wants only the best for you.”
“Yes, but that means that you must give up what you want out of life.”
Isabelle knew what it meant. It ached deep in her chest. The thought of never seeing her family again was a pain akin to losing a loved one for all eternity. Though there were letters that could be written and perhaps her parents would visit, it wasn’t the same.
She wouldn’t be able to speak with her mother whenever she had a problem. She would no longer be able to find her father sitting in his study late at night and share a pastry with him.
It was a lot to give up. Perhaps it was too much to give up.
At the very least she would make an effort to find a husband. Maybe her father would be willing to negotiate more with the duke if she showed that she had tried her best to match with a suitor.
Isabelle gave Victoria a wry smile, although she was coming apart on the inside. “A sacrifice I will happily make for my friend.”
“You cannot do that for me. I will never forgive myself if you do.”
I do not know if I will ever forgive myself either.
Isabelle shifted, hauling herself onto the bed and sitting back. “I will not promise to marry anyone, but I am not going to allow your family to fall by the wayside either.”
“What if I begged you not to do it?” Victoria’s voice broke. “If I asked you to remain true to yourself and not marry for the sake of my family, would you honor that?”
For just a second she thought about rescinding her declaration. If she told Lady Victoria that she didn’t think she could go through with the flirting and the first steps of courtship, she knew her friend would forgive her.
But would I ever be able to forgive myself for not helping her when I had the power to do so?
“I will never be anyone other than who I am,” Isabelle said, her tone soft as deep emotion formed a lump in her throat that threatened to choke her. “But if I choose to marry, then it will be to help you.”
“That is as good a promise as I am going to get?”
